The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-19
THE WITCH'S HEAD.
BY n. RIDER HAoaARp.
CHAPTER XXXvI.


on the Hoe, just before luncheon time. Her
husband was now acting as locum tencns for
the rector Of one Of the Plymouth parishes.
They had moved thus from place to place for
years. waiting for the Kesterwick living TO
fall vacant, and Eva liked the rowing life
well enough-it diverted her thoughts
Presently she heard her husband enter,
bringing somebody else with him, and sum-
moned up the sweet SMILE for which she was
remarkable, to greet him.
In another instant he was in the room, fol-
lowed by fresh faced subaltern, whose ap-
pearance reminded her OF the picture of
cherubs. Mr.. Plowden had changed but
little since we saw him last, with the excep.
tion that his hair was now streaked with gray,
and the whole face rather stouter. Other
wise the cold, gray eyes were as cold as ever,
and the countenance of Plowden was what
the countenance of Plowden had always been
powerful, intelligent and coarse looking.
"Let me introduce my friend, Lieut. Jasper,
to you, my dear" he said, in his full, strong
voice, which was yet unpleasant to the ear.
1--WE met at Capt. Johnstones, aud as it is
long way to go to the barracks for lunch, l
asked him to come and take pot luck with u.s."
The cherubic Jasper had screwed an eye
glass into his round eye, and through it was
but, like most very beautiful women, she was
used to that sort Of thing, and 1t only amused
her family. Mr.. Plowden, too, was used to
it, and took it as a personal compliment.
~ am delighted she murmured, and held
out her hand.
The cherub, suddenly awaling to the fact,
dropped his eyeglass, and, plunging at it,
seized it as pike does little fish and shook
1t with enthusiasm.
Eva smiled again.
"Shall we go to lunchl' she said, sweetly;
and they went to lunch, she sailing down in
front of them with the grace of a swan
AT lunch itself the conversation tagged
rather; that is, Mr.. Plowden talked with all
the facility Of an extemporary preacher; the
cherub gazed at this pale, dark eyed angel;
and Eva, fully occupied with her own
thoughts, contributed a great many apprecia-
| tive smiles and few random remarks Just
as they were, to her intense relief, nearing
| the conclusion of the meal, a messenger ar
rived to summon Mr.. Plowden to christen a
| dying baby He got up at once, for he was
punctilious in the performance of his duties
and, making excuses to his guest, departed
OH his errand, thus forcing Eva to carry or
the conversation.
"Have you been in Plymouth long, Mr.
Jasperin she asked. The eyeglass dropped
spasmodically.
"Plymouthi oh, dear, no; I only LANDED
this morning"
"Landedl Indeed! Where FRONT I die
not know that any boat was in except tn,
Conway Castle"
"Well, came by her; from the Zulu war
you know was invalided home for fever.
The cherub suddenly became intensely in
| 49, Iy,,. e.. L,I ba,- tbo
Ernest must have come from there.
"Indeedl hope you had pleasant pas
sage 1t depends so much on your fellow
passengers, does it notp
"Oh, yes, we had very nice lot of men o.
board, wounded officers, mostly. There wer
couple of very decent civilians, too, giant
of fellow called Jones, and blind baronet
Sir Ernest Kershaw"
Eva's bosom heaved.
II once knew a Mr.. Ernest Kershaw;
wonder if it is the samel He was tall, ant
had dark eyes"
"That's the man; he only got his title
month ago. 4 melancholy sort of chap
thoughts; but then, he can't see now. Tha
Jones is a wonderful fellow, though--coult
pull two heavy men up at once, ms easily q
you would lift puppy dog. Saw him do /
myself | knew them both out there"
"Ohl Where did you meet themi"
"Well, it was rather curious i suppos
you heard of the great disaster at that plac
with an awful name Well, was at
beastly hole called Helpmakaar, when
fellow came riding like anything fror
Rorke's Drift, telling us what had happened
and that the Zulus were coming, So we a
set to and worked like mad, and just as W
had got tue place a little flt for them, some
body shouted that he saw them coming
That was just as it was getting dark. ia
to the wall to look, and saw, not the Zulu'
but great big fellow carrying dead fello'
in his arms, followed by Kaffer leadin
three horses. At least | thought the fello'
was dead, but he wasn't, he had been struc
by lightning. We let him in, and such
sight as they were you never saw, all soake
with blood from top to toe"
"Ah! And how did they come like thatr
"They were the only survivors of volul
teer corps called Alston's Horse, They kille
all the Zulus that were attacking them, whe
the Zulus had killed everybody except then
Then they came away, and the blind fellow
that is, Sir Ernest, got struck in storm
fellows often do out there"
Eva put further questions, and listene
with breathless interest to the story
Ernests and Jeremy's wonderful escape, s
far as the details were known to Mr.. Jaspe
quite regardless of the pitiless fire that your
gentleman was keeping on herself throue
his eyeglass. At last, reluctantly enough,
rose TO so.
81 must be off now Mrs. Plowden; l wal
to go and call on Sir Ernest at the hotel /
lent me Derringer pistol to practice at
bottle with and / forgot to give it back"
Eva turned the full battery of her beaut
full eyes upon him She saw that the youI
gentleman was struck and determined
make use of him. Women are unscrupulo
when they have an end in Wow.
~ am so sorry you must go, but hope "
will come and see me again and tell me son
more about the war and the battles"
"You are very kind" he stammered.
! shall be delighted"
He did not think it necessary to add tn
he had not had the luck to see a shot fir
himself Why should hei
"By the way, il you are going to see
Ernest, do you think you could give him
private message from mei l have reas
for not wishing to be overheard"
"Oh, yes, dare say can. Nothing wol
give me greater pleasure"
"You are very good" Another CLAN
q "Will you tell him that wish he would ia
i a fly and come to see met / shall be In
this afternoon"
A pang of Jealousy shot through
cherubic bosom, but he comforted hims
with the reflection that fine woman !
that could not care for "blind fellow"
"Oh, certainly, | will try"
? "Thank you,n and she extended her ha
} He took it, and, intoxicated by those sup
eyes, ventured to press it gently. A n
wonder took possession of Evas mind, q
anybody so very young could have develol
= such an astonishing amount of impuden
but she did not resent the pressure. WI
y did she care about having her hand squee
when it was question of seeing Ern'
Il Poor, deluded cherubl
CHAPTER XXXVIL.